Just as the game was about to start, two legends of basketball shook hands and basketball fans everywhere fainted.
Bill Walton was about to begin his broadcast on ESPN — alongside play-by-play cohort Dave Pasch — when Julius Erving tapped him on the shoulder. The Hall of Famers shared a warm embrace.
“Dr. J.,” one of the most entertaining and athletic players in NBA history, then took his courtside seat.
Erving played 11 seasons for the Sixers in the ’70s and ’80s, and has served as an adviser to the club over the years. The Sixers are armed with multiple first-round picks, and it wouldn’t be surprising if one of the players in Friday’s game heads east.
UCLA’s Lonzo Ball and TJ Leaf and Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen are all projected as first-rounders.
